0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994

Number of Fatalities

Speeding

Not Speeding

Number of Fatal Crashes

Speed

National Center for Statistics & Analysis ? Research & Development ? 400 Seventh Street, S.W. ? Washington, D.C. 20590

“Serving the Highway Safety Community by the Numbers”

“The economic cost 

of speed-related 

crashes is estimated 

to be more than 

$23 billion each 

year.”

Figure 1. Fatal Crashes by Speed Status, 1986-1994

Crash Type Cost

 Fatal $9.8 billion

 Injury (Non-Fatal) $9.1 billion

 Property-Damage-Only $4.3 billion

 Total $23.2 billion

Table 1. Estimated Annual Economic Costs of Speed-Related 

Crashes (1990 Dollars per Year)

Traffic Safety Facts 1994 

U.S. Department of Transportation

National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration

Speed—exceeding the posted speed limit or driving too fast for

conditions—is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic

crashes. The human and economic sacrifice is unacceptable. The economic

cost to society of speed-related crashes is estimated by NHTSA to be more

than $23 billion per year. In 1994, speed was a factor in 30 percent of all

fatal crashes, and 12,480 lives were lost in speed-related crashes.

Motor vehicle crashes cost society an estimated $4,400 per second. The

total economic cost of crashes was estimated at $137.5 billion in 1990. The

1994 costs of speed-related crashes were estimated to be more than $23

billion—$44,190 per minute or $732 per second. The health care costs of

speed-related crashes in 1994 were estimated at approximately $2 billion.
0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

15-20 21-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+

Percent Speeding

Age Group (Years)

Males

Females

Percent Speeding

2 Traffic Safety Facts 1994 — Speed

National Center for Statistics & Analysis ? Research & Development ? 400 Seventh Street, S.W. ? Washington, D.C. 20590

“In 1994, nearly 

40 percent of male 

drivers 15 to 20 

years old involved 

in fatal crashes 

were speeding.”

Figure 2. Speeding Drivers in Fatal Crashes by Age and Sex, 1994

In 1994, 500,000 people received minor injuries in speed-related crashes.

An additional 60,000 people received moderate injuries, and 23,000

received critical injuries in speed-related crashes.

Few drivers view speeding as an immediate risk to their personal safety.

However, speeding reduces a driver's ability to steer safely around curves or

objects in the roadway, extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle, and

increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to a dangerous

situation.

Young male drivers are the most likely to speed. The relative proportion of

speed-related crashes to all crashes decreases with increasing driver age. In

1994, nearly 40 percent of the male drivers 15 to 20 years old who were

involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of the crash.

Alcohol and speeding seem to go hand in hand. In 1994, 49 percent of the

speeding drivers under 21 years old who were involved in fatal crashes

were also intoxicated, with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.10

(grams per deciliter [g/dl]) or greater. In contrast, only 9 percent of the

nonspeeding drivers under age 21 involved in fatal crashes in 1994 were

intoxicated.

For drivers between 21 and 24 years of age who were involved in fatal

crashes in 1994, 65 percent of speeding drivers were intoxicated, compared

with only 20 percent of nonspeeding drivers.

Alcohol and speeding are clearly a deadly combination. Alcohol

involvement is prevalent for drivers involved in speed-related crashes.

In 1994, 44 percent of the intoxicated drivers (BAC = 0.10 or higher)

involved in fatal crashes were speeding, compared with only 23 percent of

the sober drivers (BAC = 0.00) involved in fatal crashes (Figure 3).
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

0.00 0.01-0.09 0.10+

Percent

BAC Group

Percent

Speeding

Not Speeding

BAC Group

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

6-9 9-12 12-3 3-6 6-9 9-12 12-3 3-6

Percent

Time of Day

Percent Alcohol Involvement

Not Speeding

Time of Day

A.M. P.M. A.M.

Speeding

Traffic Safety Facts 1994 — Speed 3

National Center for Statistics & Analysis ? Research & Development ? 400 Seventh Street, S.W. ? Washington, D.C. 20590

“Between midnight 

and 3 am, 80 percent 

of speeding drivers 

involved in fatal 

crashes had been 

drinking.”

Figure 3. All Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes by BAC Level 

and Speed Status, 1994

Figure 4. Drivers in Fatal Crashes by Alcohol Involvement, 

Speed Status, and Time of Day, 1994

For both speeding and nonspeeding drivers involved in fatal crashes, the

percentage of those who had been drinking, with BAC 0.01 or greater, at the

time the crash occurred was higher at night than during the day. Between

midnight and 3 am, 80 percent of speeding drivers involved in fatal crashes

had been drinking.
0

10

20

30

40

50

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994

Number of Fatalities

Alcohol-Related

Speed-Related

Percent

Total Fatality Rate

per 100 Million

Vehicle Miles Traveled

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

1986 1990 1994

0

10

20

30

40

50

Speeding Alcohol No Restraints Speeding

and Alcohol

Speeding, Alcohol,

Percentage of Involved Drivers Percentage of Involved Drivers

Passenger Cars Light Trucks Motorcycles Large Trucks

and No Restraints

4 Traffic Safety Facts 1994 — Speed

National Center for Statistics & Analysis ? Research & Development ? 400 Seventh Street, S.W. ? Washington, D.C. 20590

“Speed involvement 

for motorcyclists 

in fatal crashes 

was twice as high 

as for car and 

light truck drivers.”

Figure 5. Percentages of Fatalities Related to Speed and to Alcohol, 

1986-1994

Figure 6. Speeding, Alcohol Involvement, and Failure To Use 

Restraints Among Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes 

by Vehicle Type, 1994

In 1994, 44 percent of all motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes were

speeding. The percentage of speed involvement in fatal crashes was more

than twice as high for motorcyclists as for drivers of passenger cars or light

trucks, and the percentage of alcohol involvement was nearly 50 percent

higher for motorcyclists.
Interstate,

55-65 mph

Speed Limit

(12%)

(44%)

Non-Interstate,

55 mph

Speed Limit

Non-Interstate,

50 mph and Below

Speed Limit

(44%)

Traffic Safety Facts 1994 — Speed 5

National Center for Statistics & Analysis ? Research & Development ? 400 Seventh Street, S.W. ? Washington, D.C. 20590

“The chances of 

death or serious 

injury double 

for every 10 mph 

over 50 mph that 

a vehicle travels.”

“Only 12 percent 

of speed-related 

fatalities occur 

on Interstate 

highways.”

Figure 7. Speed-Related Fatalities by Road Type, 1994

In 1994, only 35 percent of speeding passenger vehicle drivers under

21 years old who were involved in fatal crashes were wearing safety belts at

the time of the crash. In contrast, 54 percent of nonspeeding drivers in the

same age group were restrained. For drivers 21 years and older, the

percentage of speeding drivers involved in fatal crashes who were using

restraints at the time of the crash was also 35 percent, but 62 percent of

nonspeeding drivers in fatal crashes were restrained.

In 1994, 22 percent of speeding drivers involved in fatal crashes had an

invalid license at the time of the crash, compared with 10 percent of

nonspeeding drivers.

Crash severity increases with increasing vehicle speed at the time of impact.

The chances of death or serious injury double for every 10 miles per hour

over 50 miles per hour that a vehicle travels. For vehicles traveling 10 miles

per hour above or below the average speed, crash involvement rates are

almost 6 times those for vehicles traveling within 10 miles per hour of the

average speed.

Speed was a factor in 30 percent of the fatal crashes that occurred on

dry roads in 1994 and in 31 percent of those that occurred on wet roads.

Speed was a factor in 48 percent of the fatal crashes that occurred when

there was snow or slush on the road and in 46 percent of those that occurred

on icy roads.

Speed was involved in one-third of the fatal crashes that occurred in

construction/maintenance zones in 1994.

In 1994, 88 percent of speed-related fatalities occurred on roads that were

not Interstate highways. Of all speed-related fatalities, 94 percent occurred

on roads with a posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour or less.
0

5

10

15

20

25

30

8.33

21.65

25.06

45 to 55 55 to 65 65 to 75

Percentage Increase

Speed Change (miles per hour)

6 Traffic Safety Facts 1994 — Speed

National Center for Statistics & Analysis ? Research & Development ? 400 Seventh Street, S.W. ? Washington, D.C. 20590

“Passenger vehicles 

use about 50 percent 

more fuel traveling at

75 miles an hour 

than they do at 

55 miles an hour.”

Figure 8. Percentage Increases in Fuel Consumption 

with Increasing Speeds

For more information:

Information on speed involvement in traffic fatalities is available from the National Center for Statistics and

Analysis, NRD-31, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590. Telephone inquiries should be

addressed to Ms. Louann Hall at (202) 366-4198. FAX messages should be sent to (202) 366-7078. To report

a safety-related problem or to inquire about motor vehicle safety information, contact the Auto Safety Hotline

at 1-800-424-9393.

“Serving the Highway Safety Community by the Numbers”

Fuel consumption increases steadily with increasing travel speed above 45

miles per hour. Passenger cars and light trucks use approximately

50 percent more fuel traveling at 75 miles per hour than they do at 55 miles

per hour.

The cost of fuel for an average passenger car traveling 100 miles at 55 miles

per hour is $4.36, compared with $6.64 for a car traveling at 75 miles per

hour. For an average light truck traveling 100 miles at 55 miles per hour the

fuel cost is $6.07, compared with $9.10 for a light truck traveling at 75

miles per hour.
Traffic Safety Facts 1994 — Speed 7

National Center for Statistics & Analysis ? Research & Development ? 400 Seventh Street, S.W. ? Washington, D.C. 20590

Table 2. Speed-Related Traffic Fatalities and Costs by Road Type and Speed Limit, 1994

State Fatalities Total 65 mph 55 mph 55 mph 50 mph 45 mph 40 mph 35 mph <35 mph Total Interstate Non-Interstate

Total

Traffic

Speed-Related Fatalities by Road Type and Speed Limit Estimated Costs of Speed-Related

Crashes by Road Type

Interstate Non-Interstate (Million 1990 Dollars)

AL 1,083 341 15 13 196 7 33 26 27 23 635 54 581 

AK 85 33 2 4 7 5 0 2 0 2 61 11 50 

AZ 903 341 46 10 95 20 49 42 43 27 633 125 508 

AR 610 204 14 3 108 4 26 9 11 13 380 34 346 

CA 4,226 1,743 94 167 713 70 126 129 237 170 3,245 491 2,753 

CO 585 220 33 16 65 8 23 24 23 27 410 97 313 

CT 310 93 0 13 3 8 14 4 17 34 173 30 143 

DE 112 29 0 2 10 15 0 1 0 1 54 4 50 

DC 69 38 0 0 0 2 3 0 3 30 71 9 61 

FL 2,687 549 25 18 136 17 129 46 77 93 1,022 99 923 

GA 1,426 341 16 17 174 7 53 10 40 18 635 65 570 

HI 122 41 0 3 3 3 7 1 6 18 76 7 69 

ID 249 93 12 4 43 7 7 0 8 6 173 30 143 

IL 1,554 448 29 53 215 1 20 9 4 117 834 162 672 

IN 974 241 13 10 86 19 29 33 14 32 449 54 395 

IA 478 60 2 1 23 6 2 0 8 18 112 6 106 

KS 442 101 4 5 58 3 5 3 6 13 188 17 171 

KY 778 218 9 3 154 0 13 0 25 4 406 22 383 

LA 838 182 8 10 68 7 41 1 26 20 339 37 302 

ME 188 72 1 0 7 10 27 10 7 8 134 4 130 

MD 651 149 0 17 23 25 10 17 17 38 277 41 236 

MA 440 92 1 11 9 6 13 5 14 33 171 22 149 

MI 1,419 362 17 12 173 14 27 12 45 41 674 61 612 

MN 644 152 9 7 96 5 6 6 0 20 283 30 253 

MS 791 114 16 2 47 20 20 3 3 3 212 34 179 

MO 1,089 407 16 21 242 5 21 22 36 41 758 76 681 

MT 202 73 13 2 46 1 2 0 3 6 136 28 108 

NE 271 66 3 0 23 21 1 4 7 6 123 6 117 

NV 294 133 19 4 42 8 19 3 21 17 248 43 205 

NH 119 37 3 2 1 3 1 8 8 10 69 11 58 

NJ 761 55 0 2 8 19 4 8 3 11 102 7 95 

NM 447 161 21 6 44 9 21 8 24 9 300 54 246 

NY 1,658 470 0 25 201 28 18 27 22 113 875 67 808 

NC 1,431 530 20 18 323 7 80 0 65 12 987 74 912 

ND 88 35 1 0 17 2 1 1 1 6 65 2 63 

OH 1,371 345 15 20 190 10 24 9 48 27 642 73 570 

OK 687 321 27 22 182 13 18 15 20 19 598 97 501 

OR 490 133 11 6 78 3 10 1 8 15 248 32 216 

PA 1,441 522 0 50 163 9 105 51 104 40 972 93 879 

RI 63 22 0 3 0 2 1 1 2 12 41 7 34 

SC 847 398 26 6 179 11 76 26 45 28 741 63 678 

SD 154 66 3 0 42 2 5 0 4 9 123 6 117 

TN 1,214 342 10 18 114 13 63 43 32 46 637 56 581 

TX 3,186 1,114 91 77 498 33 100 77 117 106 2,072 354 1,718 

UT 342 107 16 10 25 6 12 8 6 17 199 48 151 

VT 77 27 2 0 1 11 0 5 5 2 50 4 47 

VA 930 235 22 18 119 2 26 4 23 18 437 80 357 

WA 638 219 15 11 40 38 13 11 54 32 408 48 359 

WV 356 101 6 0 56 2 11 7 9 10 188 11 177 

WI 712 235 11 3 136 1 28 2 23 19 437 28 410 

WY 144 69 15 1 35 0 5 2 4 5 128 34 95 

USA 40,676 12,480 732 726 5,317 548 1,348 736 1,355 1,445 23,228 2,947 20,281 

PR 598 292 0 69 14 16 68 28 59 38 544 136 408 

Notes: Totals may not equal sum of components due to independent rounding. The total column for speed-related fatalities includes fatalities that

occurred on roads for which the speed limit was unknown. The total column for costs of speed-related crashes includes costs for crashes that occurred

on unknown road types. Costs are based on preliminary estimates.